Comments for The Parenting Passageway

Comment on Day Seven, Part One: Twenty Days Toward Being A More Mindful Mother by Fiona

Fiona — Sun, 27 May 2012 06:57:27 +0000

I don’t homeschool, but I think your comment about over-9yos needing outdoor time is great. This is something I need to work on with my girls aged 12 and 14. It is too easy for them to be sedentary all afternoon and then rude to Mum all evening!

Comment on Get Your Planning On: Homeschooling Kindergarten by momanddadacademy

momanddadacademy — Fri, 25 May 2012 00:17:18 +0000

Hi Carrie. I really liked this post. I am currently planning a physical education plan for y four home-schooled kids. We are signing our son up for a kids triathlon and I try to get them practicing their bike riding, swimming and running daily. I, too, am concerned that today;s kids are spending waaaayyy too much time in front of screens rather than be outside where they belong. I predict that its time for a movement who’s motto is: turn off the screens and go discover life!

Sigal
The Mom and Dad Academy
http://momanddadacademy.com/
The Mom and Dad Marathon
http://momanddadmarathon.wordpress.com/

Comment on Planning Tips For Homeschooling Kindergarten Through Grade Four by Sheila

Sheila — Thu, 24 May 2012 11:29:43 +0000

I obviously posted that a little early in the morning! I meant a telling of the fairy tale during circle one day with a review and art the next day.

Comment on Planning Tips For Homeschooling Kindergarten Through Grade Four by Carrie

Carrie — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:52:01 +0000

Dear TheSOundofSheep,
There are no blocks in kindergarten…block teaching is just teaching one particular subject in a Main Lesson for a period of weeks, then letting that subject rest and do a different subject.
Kindergarten does not work in blocks at all. It works according to a rhythm each day of the week. If you look under the “Homeschooling” tab on the header of this blog, kindergarten is one of drop down menu choices, if you hit that there is plenty about planning kindergarten. (and also grades one through four). Here is one about those terms main lesson, blocks, etc: http://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/11/10/waldorf-101-main-lesson-books-block-teaching-and-the-three-day-rhythm/

The indications from what block when came from Rudolf Steiner himself, and has been refined over the years by Waldorf teachers and schools. I suggest the Christopherus “Waldorf Curriculum Overview” for you to read as it goes through what would be done each year, each block in a Waldorf School but then looks at that grade a second time from a Waldorf perspective.

Sincerely,
Carrie

Comment on Planning Tips For Homeschooling Kindergarten Through Grade Four by Sheila

Sheila — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:46:39 +0000

Hey Carrie,
I did a lot of thinking about next year and a lot of talking with my husband too this past week. (Two boys napping, driving to and from the beach inspires these things.) I agree with your thoughts above, and especially your thoughts on grade 1. I think I am only going to do 1 formal day of lessons (which will be Grimm’s and art) and then reviewing the story informally during circle the next day. I want to focus on movement yes, and also specific goals of riding a 2 wheeler, tying his shoes, swimming and knitting. I didn’t start scheduled academics with my older one (now in grade 4) until the 2nd half of 2nd grade – and this was fine.

I find this is the time of year where it is so hard to finish the grades your doing now and not just scrap the last month and plan for next year.

I was glad to hear you didn’t make it through US geo either. We got through east of the Mississippi. It’s a big country! I may read some novels that take place out west over the summer or take your idea and lump it with the rest of NA next year. We’ll see.

Thanks for the great post. This is one for the printer!
Love to you.
Sheila Petruccelli

Comment on Planning Tips For Homeschooling Kindergarten Through Grade Four by thesoundofsheep

thesoundofsheep — Thu, 24 May 2012 03:22:02 +0000

Carrie! I so look forward to your posts. Such a honest encouraging voice. I’m excited to start kindergarten next year. A few questions. Where is the information you refer to that might outline the grades and what’s traditional (ie Fairy Tales this year, American Geo that year)? What’s your fav resource for that type of layout?
Also, can you define “block”…I’ve read about Main lesson stuff and still seem a little nebulous to me.
Thanks!

Comment on Christian Links and Resources to Love by Carrie

Carrie — Wed, 23 May 2012 19:51:01 +0000

Kara,
I would first of all check out the scope and sequence of what is being offered at your place of worship. It would be good to know what your children will be taught when, and are there special things that your children would need to know for certain events within the life of your place of worship. THen, I have to be totally honest and say I feel most Sunday School type curriculum packages don’t seem to me to line up with development very well! And I really dislike the “edutainment factor” many churches seem to be heading toward, with loud videos and such LOL. We know the memory functions best around the age of six and a half or seven, and that children under 7 certainly do remember things but they can’t always call it up directly on demand but many times will remember something presented in song. Many nine year olds learn Psalms and Proverbs by heart in the third grade of the Waldorf curriculum to go along with Old Testament studies, so that may be a more reasonable time to really expect that to take place, fully and on demand.

I would say the history and such, whilst often taught to small children, is better left for around the age of 11 or 12 and up. They will remember much more and get more out of it. This year, my daughter had a book about Paul and a map of his journeys, and I have to say there was very little interest at age ten (fourth grade). History in ernest usually begins more the upper elementary grades (fifth and up), so those grades may be a great time to start looking at those sorts of things.

You know your children best, your intuition and observation of your children will show you how to best bring these things to life for them. These are just my opinions, and you certainly don’t have to agree with them. And do check with your place of worship, your priest or pastor or Children’s Ministry section. Small, small children learn best by doing. Celebrate the Saint’s days if that is part of your religious path, do things for the Christian holidays, make meaningful traditions, pray with them and help them memorize small verses and prayers to mark daily transitions, let them see you going to church, being part of that community, and it will lay a solid foundation for the more complex things of which you speak.

Many blessings, can’t wait to hear about your journey and how it looks for your family,
Carrie

Comment on Christian Links and Resources to Love by Kara

Kara — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:31:34 +0000

Carrie,

Could you share your thoughts o the appropriate ages for to start different types of religious education? For example, when would it be appropriate to move from telling great stories from the Bible to reading it directly? When should scripture memorization start? When should we begin to learn the history of the Bible such as learning about ancient Egypt or look at Paul’s journey on a map? I don’t want to leave these things out, but I don’t want to push them to soon either. My little ones are almost 5 and 6 right now.

Thanks for your wonderful blog! I am learning so much from you.

Kara

Comment on Starting Solids With Your Infant and Picky Toddler Eating by Ronal

Ronal — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:24:42 +0000

Right now, just milk, solids, and water. I’d wait on the juice just becusae it is not neccessary. I feed mine cereal and a full bottle for breakfast, baby food and a full bottle for lunch, a bottle in the afternoon, and cereal and a full bottle for supper. She is 5 months. At around nine months you can start giving her a sippy cup and she will begin getting most nutrients from food. At one year is when formula goes away and they eat more like you (eating and drinking whole milk, juice, water, etc.)

Comment on Day Six, Part Two: Twenty Days Toward Being A More Mindful Mother by Melodie

Melodie — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:21:00 +0000

This is a lovely inspiring post Carrie, Thank you so much, I have been thinking about baths for a while and that I should have them again regularly, a shower is so easy and quick, can hop in a couple of times a day, be clean, refreshed and ready to GO again, but a bath has so much more mindfulness and intention involved doesn’t it? I always love to add candles into the bath time treat and sometimes crystals too. We use herbal tea bags in the bath too – licorice tea bags when someone is sick, chamomile tea bags or even the dried flowers for calming. Definitely time for a bath now before bed! Good night!